Taxis attempts to capture the present moment, when the old taxi business is almost gone, replaced by algorithm-driven platforms, but still alive in the minds of individual drivers and in the work culture. The artists invited a group of taxi drivers and cabbies to work together. Some still remember the days of the legendary Kaunas taxi fleet, while others, who started working relatively recently, have always used electronic platforms.

The starting point for the taxis was a question for the drivers: why do you drive a taxi? A simple question led to unexpected and challenging answers, revealing the different worldviews of the drivers and their various, often complex, and sometimes unbelievable experiences, which became the basis for the dramaturgical material of Taxi.

​

The car journeys begin in a mysterious hub in Kaunas' Šančiai district, which is administered by Zita, a dispatcher with a long experience in this field, who helps the audience to choose their routes. The journeys go in different directions and show the passengers unseen and not necessarily bright sides of the city.

Music plays a particularly important role in taxis. Soundtracks by a group of talented young composers colour each journey with a distinctive mood, taking you away from the everyday. The creators of the performance also use video art, gaming elements and pay close attention to the interaction between the driver and the viewer.

​​

Concept by Rimantas Ribačiauskas, Kristina Werner, Žilvinas Landzbergas, Erika Urbelevič

Directed by Kristina Werner

Playwright Rimantas Ribačiauskas (text written in collaboration with the creative team)

Set designer Žilvinas Landzbergas

Executive Producer Erika Urbelevič

Producer Aistė Ulubey

Composers: Dominykas Digimas, Romuald Chaloin Galiauskas, Elena Jūra Šedytė, Andrius Šiurys, Lukas Tarvainis, Edvinas Kopcevas

Visual artist Kristijonas Dirsė

Costume Designer Irina Seidner

Drivers: Lina Butkutė, Rasimas Dzafarovas, Žilvinas Karaliūnas, Jolanta Kuprevičienė, Rimvydas Lukoševičius, Laurynas Mažuolis, Egidijus Ratkevičius, Marco Ruta, Deivis Vasiljevas

Operator Zita Lucija Neverbickienė

The concept of the performance was developed in the virtual residency in Blast Theory studio.

The production is part of Kaunas - European Capital of Culture 2022 programme.